25 percent of trade blocked
Trump also supports Canadian truckers
By Roland Peters
02/11/2022, 11:09 am
Away with all pandemic protection measures, this is what truck drivers in Canada want to achieve. What began in the capital, Ottawa, has expanded to include key US border crossings. A Christian crowdfunding website is collecting money, and a “people’s convoy” is planned in the USA.
It’s easy to travel back and forth between the US and Canada – actually. From the car metropolis of Detroit, for example, it is only a tunnel and a bridge that separate the two neighboring countries. Because of the pandemic, a new requirement for truck drivers was introduced: Anyone who wants to enter Canada from the USA must present proof of vaccination. Truckers didn’t want to accept that and initially blocked streets in the Canadian capital with a “freedom convoy” in protest at the end of January. They are now standing near the government buildings. Others have been occupying the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, since Monday. The bridge is the most economically important border crossing in North America.
Ottawa police are calling it a “siege” and the mayor has declared a state of emergency. Ottawa police warned that people should end the protest “immediately” or they will click the handcuffs. 840 kilometers west on the Detroit border, the mayor of Windsor said Wednesday arresting drivers and towing their trucks would only lead to violence. Some drivers have said they are willing to die for their goals. “100 people are holding part of our economy hostage,” he said of the bridge blockade. Various car manufacturers are already in production because of the blockade adjust or restrict.
Three border crossings between the two countries are now manned by truckers, and a fourth is to follow soon. Marco Mendicio, Canada’s Minister for Public Safety, ruled out negotiations with the demonstrators: “It would be a terrible precedent to say that if you show up with heavy machinery and blockade the capital, you can force politicians to change course recklessly.” Nobody is above the law.
“You must change something”
Blockade in Canada’s capital Ottawa.
(Photo: AP)
What began as a driver’s protest against a single condition has become a pool of differing demands. As in other countries, there is also a wild mix that can be found there: conspiracy theorists, right-wing extremists, opponents of vaccination and just those who are no longer interested in the corona measures. The blockers want to end all restrictions, some are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even if the provinces are responsible for health measures in Canada. “They always do the same thing and it doesn’t help,” quoted the “New York Times” a demonstrator in Ottawa: “You have to change something, no more lockdowns. Let’s live our lives.”
In Ontario, public life has been significantly restricted for almost two years due to the corona protection measures. Measures were last relaxed on January 31. 10 people can now meet privately in buildings, up to 25 in the open air. For most indoor events, capacities are halved. Guests must show proof of vaccination, and they are not allowed to sing or dance. The provincial government has announced further easing for February 21 – subject to current Covid developments.
The potential impact of the truck blockades is enormous. Goods worth about 323 million dollars are otherwise transported over the Ambassador Bridge alone every day. Calculated over the year, that is about a quarter of the total trade volume of the two countries. According to the US government, the blockades pose a threat to the auto industry’s supply chains. The companies are already feeling the first consequences, said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Detroit is the heart of the US auto industry, home to Ford, General Motors and Chrysler plants. In addition, 40,000 commuters use the crossing every day. Many now drive through the nearby tunnel to get across the border.
In Canada, almost 80 percent of the population has been vaccinated twice, more than in Germany. According to the Canadian truckers’ union CTA, only 10 percent of the demonstrating truck drivers are unvaccinated. The organization condemned the protests. “Ironically, many of those protesting that their lives are being disrupted by certain rules are disrupting the lives of their Canadian compatriots with their actions,” said Union President Stephen Lakowski. Some see themselves oppressed by the government’s corona requirements. The others are terrorized by a minority. The weekend the Ottawa blockade began agreed 54 percent Canadians are calling for an end to general restrictions – people should self-isolate if they are at risk.
A crowdfunding campaign by one of the coordinating protest groups initially received $1 million in financial support from around the world before the GoFundMe platform stopped the campaign. Now the convoy continues to collect on another website, the “market leader in Christian fundraising”. So far, $8.25 million of the $16 million funding goal has been committed there. Another campaign called “Adopt a Trucker” has already raised more than 670,000 Canadian dollars. According to the initiators, the money should only cover costs; Gasoline, groceries and any legal fees incurred for the participating truck drivers.
“People’s Convoy” in the United States
Supporters near the bridge
(Photo: REUTERS)
The protests are apparently also serving internationally as a catalyst for the dissatisfied. Especially in the neighboring country. On March 4th, a truck convoy is to roll from California towards the US capital to get rid of vaccination requirements and mouth and nose protection regulations. One of the organizers of the “People’s Convoy” was already a guest of the influential right-wing conservative TV presenter Tucker Carlson on Fox News, the Facebook group has almost 60,000 members. They consider the current measures to be unconstitutional and call for the “restoration of our rights”.
The supporters have clear ties to the right-wing political camp, although they themselves say they are impartial. “This has worrying parallels to the run-up to the January 6, 2020 riots,” an extremism analyst was quoted as saying by Politico. Now it depends on how it ends up, should the convoy reach Washington DC. The protests in Canada have been gratefully taken up by the Republicans. Ex-President Donald Trump published last week a messagethe “crazy left winger Trudeau has destroyed Canada with his crazy Covid restrictions”.
Support from other US conservatives has drawn global attention. In France and other European countries, there are isolated copycat actions by truck drivers who want to campaign for an end to the corona countermeasures. On February 14, protests from across the EU were supposed to culminate in Brussels. However, city authorities want the convoy at the city limits dissolve. Accordingly, no registration for a demonstration was received. The Paris police have also officially banned the truckers’ action.
In Canada, the protest is still ongoing. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson showed little understanding for the demonstrators: “They live in a parallel world that doesn’t make sense,” he said. “They are making a fool of themselves. I think they should go back home and give the people their city back.” However, Watson sees no sign that the protest would end soon. One of the organizers said the truckers were “very patient” and that the government grossly underestimated their staying power. Supporters of the drivers had also taken to the streets over the past two weekends – this could be repeated on Saturday and Sunday.